Vanceboro shooting suspect charged, moved to Raleigh

Thursday

The suspect in a series of shootings that occurred near Vanceboro on Aug. 20 was formally charged Thursday after his release from the hospital.

The suspect in a series of shootings that occurred near Vanceboro on Aug. 20 was formally charged Thursday after his release from the hospital.

John Aites Jenkins, 82, of Vanceboro, faces three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, one count of discharging a weapon into occupied property and one count of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, according to a release from District Attorney Scott Thomas.

Jenkins was served with arrest warrants after he was released from Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, where he was being treated for injuries he obtained after the shootings. Upon his release, he was taken into custody and transported to a Craven County magistrate, where bail was set at $2 million.

Following his visit to the magistrate’s office, Jenkins was taken before a District Court judge for his first appearance. Because of his physical condition, his appearance was held outside of the courtroom.

Due to his medical condition, Jenkins then was taken to the Division of Adult Correction in Raleigh under a Safekeeping Order as he awaits his next court appearance, which is set for Sept. 19 in Craven County District Court.

Investigators say Jenkins shot and wounded three men on Streets Ferry Road on Aug. 20 using a shotgun and a handgun. He fired shots at other people, but they were not injured, authorities say.

Investigators say the incident began when Jenkins, who owns property in the area, confronted a crew that was working for Indiana-based brush-trimming company Townsend Tree Service and then opened fire. He was driving a Toyota pickup and was armed with a handgun and a shotgun.

Two men from the tree crew were hit. They were identified as Angelo Tavares Williams, 38, of Ayden Drive, Vanceboro, and Brian Lee Holden, 41, of Wilmar Road, Vanceboro. Both were struck with shotgun pellets.

Williams was struck in the face, and Holden was hit in the mid-torso, investigators say. Authorities have said the gunman shot at Holden with a revolver as the victim hid behind a vehicle.

Jenkins then drove to spots where two bucket trucks from the tree-cutting service were stationed. The gunman fired shots at two men, each of whom was inside an elevated bucket from their respective utility trucks, the district attorney said. Neither worker was hit.

Craven County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason E. Buck and Vanceboro Police Officer Jason Lovick confronted Jenkins and ordered him to stop. When Jenkins refused, the law officers gave chase. Jenkins headed toward Vanceboro on Streets Ferry Road and, near town, fired at neighborhood resident Billy Arthur Dail with a shotgun. Dail, who was attempting to direct traffic away from the shooting scene, was struck in the side of his face and head as well as the hand, investigators say.

Lovick then fired at Jenkins, who was still sitting in the pickup. He was struck in the side of his face and head. He was airlifted to the Greenville hospital, where he remained until Thursday.

All three shooting victims — Williams, Holden and Dail — are out of the hospital and are recovering

If Jenkins posts the secured bond, there will be several additional conditions placed on his release as requested by Thomas. The conditions are: Jenkins will be subject to house arrest using the electronic monitoring system; he must surrender any and all firearms to law enforcement and not possess any other firearms; Jenkins must surrender his driver’s license and not drive any vehicle while the case is pending; he must not use, possess or consume alcohol or any controlled substance while the case is pending, except medication prescribed to him; and he must have no contact with any of the victims of these crimes pending trial.

Jenkins would be arrested and placed in jail for any violation of his bond, the district attorney’s office said.

Megan Beyer can be reached at 252-635-5671 or megan.beyer@newbernsj.com.

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